GRAND CHUTE – Will Connors’ run-scoring double to right-center in the 11th broke a 1-1 stalemate and pushed across what proved to be the winning run as Waunakee topped the Hornets 3-1 on Tuesday in a WIAA Division 1 state baseball semifinal marathon at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

The Warriors (20-6) advance to Thursday’s championship game at 6 p.m. They tacked on an insurance run in the 11th on Brody Royston's run-scoring single.

Preble (21-4) opened its half of the 11th with back-to-back singles. But the next three batters struck out as the Hornets stranded runners at the corners.

Preble rallied from a 1-0 deficit in the sixth, scoring the tying run on an infield throwing error. However, the Hornets managed just seven hits and finished 1-of-11 with runners in scoring position.

The Hornets grabbed an early 2-0 lead, scoring a run in the third on a wild pitch and another in the fourth on a one-out single to right by junior Zach Renier.

Kimberly (18-8), the defending Division 1 state champions and playing in its fifth straight tourney, rallied with solo runs in the fourth and sixth innings. Drew Lechnir led off the fourth with a triple to right-center and then scored on an infield groundout at first. Lechnir’s one-out single to center in the sixth scored Zach Lechnir from second.